WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[eagleeye2]

here is my pick for preseason..

1.RMC( as long as the post can show up every night as well as hiltunen, they     should be ok)

2.BC( with leading score burkholder returning and other steping up)

3. Va Weselyan( I agree they are always a tough team)

4. Lynchburg( they are still a pretty young team, when they play together they can be a good force)

5. EMU( i agree with Riley its going to be hard to replace her for inside presence.)


theres my preseason pick. I love this time of year!!

[ODAC Has-been]

I think this will be an interesting year around the ODAC. Here's my top 5:

1. Randolph-Macon: They've got the most solid core of returners who are going to be very important for the success of the squad. If everyone can show up at game time and play the kind of ball they are capable of playing, they're going to be very tough to beat.

2. Virginia Wesleyan: I've got VWC here at the 2 spot because I believe they're blood is still boiling over last years results. Coach Dunmeyer is a tough cookie and a great coach. The ladies who played behind they're standout seniors last year know what it's going to take to get to the top. They're going to be a solid team that will bounce back from losing quite a few valuable seniors.

3. Lynchburg: I think they're going to be the surprise upsetter this year. They've taken quite a few poundings in the past from the big whigs, but I think they're going to be seasoned enough to put it all together this year. They've got a quick line-up, and if they are able to keep their composure and do the things they do best, they will surprise many a team.

4. Bridgewater: They had quite the Cinderella season last year, but I'm not sure if they have all the tools to put it all together again this year. They were able to take advantage of teams when they were at their weakest (VWC, RMC) and make the most of the situation. Burkholder will be a good returner for them, but I'm not sure if she will have a supportive cast to bring it all together in the end.

5. Eastern Mennonite: They've got some quick returning players, but most of their seasoned vet's are gone and they'll be in a rebuilding year. With Riley moving on, someone will need to step up and take a leadership role.

[goblue]

looks like marymount has put up their roster ... and lo and behold ...

http://www.marymount.edu/athletics/wbball/riley.html

i know this is not a cac board, but that is another great threat for the saints (as well as a huge loss for the royals).

[emufan]

This is old news and has already been posted on here.

I am dissapointed with Riley.  I don't see why a player would return to a school that she left in the first place.  It just doesn't make sense.

[78rmc]

As to Riley, think about it.  Marymount is the most likely choice if she were to leave EMU.  Most school have a minimal course requirement for graduation.  That is, courses at the school conveying the diploma.  So, if she was leaving EMU anyway, it's the only school she could attend and not extend her college years.

Just a thought.  But I would agree that on personal level, why go back?  Just stay at EMU, it was good enough for two years, why not a third?  Interesting situation, but one I'm sure she made in her own best interest. 

[ODAC Has-been]

New or old news, she's made the move, and we'll just have to see at the end of the year whether it was smart or not!

The more important twist to this story is the preseason scrimmage tomorrow between R-MC and Marymount... with newly added Riley to the roster...should be interesting!

[eaglejacket1421]

Definitely interesting. I know Coach LaHaye typically gives everyone their fair shot during scrimmages (which I applaud tremendously), so I'm not sure if this will really be a true measure to either team's stature. I wish I could be at the scrimmage to gauge it for myself. Regardless, this will be interesting and hopefully we can get some inside scoop from any witnesses to the scrimmage as to how the team's truly measure up. The scores will not be a good enough measuring stick.

Another interesting nugget - No ODAC schools made the Top 25 preseason poll. Not sure how I feel about this. R-MC did get 12 votes, but no other ODAC school in sight, even though I thought three ODAC schools deserved a shot at the national title last season: RMC, VWC, and of course BC who forced everyone to give them the nod. We'll see how this shifts throughout the season. I understand that there are a lot of question marks in the R-MC line up, but I stand by my earlier statement: Molly Arial and Lindsay Reisbeck are All America status post players. Hands down. They just haven't gone deep enough into the tournament for them to get their due. Perhaps this is the year. It certainly better be for Reisbeck anyway. They'll sneak in the bottom later in the season if everything goes as planned and will have a legitimate shot to at least make it to the second round NCAAs if not the Sweet Sixteen.

Any other schools that should have at least received votes but didn't? (AKA VIRGINIA WESLEYAN??)

[emufan]

Has the ODAC ever gotten three teams into the dance at the same time?

I wouldn't think so.

[eaglejacket1421]

No, not to my knowledge - I was simply saying that those three teams had the potential to do damage if they made it into the tournament. The ODAC is lucky to get an automatic champion bid due to the lack of strength of the conference - much less get two at large bids.

Also, because of VWC's strength last season (they had one lapse in play and it just happened to be the most important game of their season) - I figured they'd at least get votes. Didn't really expect Macon to break into the Top 25 preseason, but thought the fact that nobody from our conference even made it close was a topic worth chatting about.

Anybody see / hear anything about the Marymount scrimmage? I'm super curious about that one.

[odacfan99]

Though I wasn't at the game, I heard RMC was impressive.  Sounds like the Big 3 of Arial, Riesbeck, and Hiltunen can expect support from a few returning players and an impressive freshman class.  I heard they blitzed Marymount in the first "game" and played them even thereafter using a lot of their young players.  Arial brought her usual impressive inside game and Hiltunen directed the offense and led the way defensively.  Looks like they open the season with their own tip-off tournment against decent competition and I'm betting they can't wait to play for real....

[generalee]

OUCH!   


Coaches Poll:

2008-09 ODAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes

1.
Randolph-Macon
119 (10)

2.
Lynchburg
105

3.
Roanoke
94

4.
Virginia Wesleyan
83

5.
Bridgewater
75

6.
Emory & Henry
63 (1)

7.
Guilford
57

8.
Eastern Mennonite
50

9.
Washington and Lee
42

10.
Randolph
27

11.
Hollins
11

[goblue]

what an interesting poll!

i would be shocked if the generals finished ninth -- it's going to be an exciting year in the ODAC and i can't wait for things to tip-off (though i'm sad i'll have to be stalking things from a far for the first time in a while)!

[eaglejacket1421]

WOW 

Very crazy poll. Boggles the mind a little bit. I'm surprised to see VWC so low and Emory and Henry so high. This is definitely going to be an interesting year. I don't really see this being the end of the season standings, and that's what makes the ODAC so great. I'm pumped for this weekend's action - the season is finally upon us.

[whitecaylxx]

Go Blue - it could be a very tough year for the Generals.  They lost 4 very talented seniors since the last Coaches Poll.   Kristin Krouchick was showcased and she will be hard to replace.  As eaglejacket commented, though, I'm surprised Emory and Henry was ranked 6th.  Bridgewater's ranking seemed a little low, as well.  We will see soon enough!

[goblue]

whitecaylxx --

obviously, i am well aware of the talent the generals lost last year and how special that class was (they are also going to miss the presence of kane & wolff, immensely as well).

to say i've been a fan of the generals for a while would be an understatement. i'm sure it will be an interesting season for the generals given how talented the ODAC is, but i still stand by my previous statement.

perhaps i have been a "fan" too long and just always want the best for the generals!  i can't help it, i believe in blue!